The latest Luke Daniels installment is an action-packed thriller and its fast tempo kept me engaged. The detail to Russian history was a nice addition to the story line.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Second book in the Luke Daniels series, which is a spinoff from the long running Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry, although the Luke Daniels has a "coauthor" who likely writes the whole thing. While I normally enjoy Berry's Malone series, I really struggled to get through this Luke Daniels adventure, especially the first third. Interesting storyline however, but I'm ambivalent about whether or not I will read the next Luke Daniels adventure.

Published by Grand Central Publishing on June 11, 2024

Red Star Falling takes place in the present, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this version of reality, Putin is a man named Konstantin Franko. Apart from the name, he is essentially Putin. Franko took over from Aleksei Delov, who took over from Gorbachev. I suppose that makes Delov the analog of Boris Yeltsin, although Yeltsin died in 2007. Delov is dying but he’s determined to bring down Franko, who has betrayed the principles of democracy that Delov championed.

Luke Daniels works for the Magellan Billet, a fictional counterterrorist unit of the Justice Department that conducts international investigations. Luke’s mentor is Cotton Malone, the protagonist in a long series of Steve Berry novels.

Red Star is an old Soviet program that maintained orbiting satellites armed with nuclear warheads. Delov ordered the satellites to self-destruct. All but one. He wants to put an end to Franco by dropping that one on Moscow. Not a bad idea, apart from the tens of thousands of innocent people who would die. The solution to the Russian dictatorship is too extreme for Luke’s sensibilities.

Luke had been stationed in Hungary, working with the CIA on an operation that ran intelligence agents in Ukraine. The operation fell apart and CIA agent John Vince was captured by Russia. Now Vince has gotten word to Luke that he’s still alive. Luke resolves to get him out of Russia.

Vince is in prison with Efim Kozar, one of two surviving scientists who understand the launch details for a Red Star attack. The other is Ilya Mashir, who has the codes to activate the nuclear device and send the Red Star tumbling toward Moscow. Kozar was recently questioned by Delov’s bodyguard and, based on that questioning, has figured out that Delov plans to activate the Red Star. He imparted that information to Vince.

In the action thriller tradition, Luke embarks on a series of adventures. He needs to break Vince out of a remote Russian prison. Vince wants Luke to take Kozar, which sparks a new mission — finding Mashir, acquiring the self-destruct code, and making his way to the station that communicates with Red Star so he can send the code. But the code is encrypted and Mashir needs Luke to recover a book from a Russian museum that is under the control of an oligarch so he can decrypt the code. Mashir also has a vested interest in recovering the library of Ivan the Terrible from the gangster oligarch who now controls it.

This chain of events struck me as unlikely make-work, existing only to give Luke some thrilling tasks to complete. Such is the nature of the modern thriller. Finding the book from Ivan's library struck me as particularly silly, but at least Luke didn’t have to raid a tomb.

Luke gets a hand from Danielle Otero, a former Russian agent who was in love with Vince. What’s a thriller without a beautiful Russian spy? Danielle has a grudge against Franko and would like to get revenge against all the people she holds accountable for Vince’s capture. Details of Luke’s travels with Danielle through remote parts of Russia give the novel a sense of realism that helps the reader disregard the unlikely nature of the plot.

As is his habit, Berry did copious research when writing the novel. While research contributes to atmosphere, he provides more historical detail about Ivan’s library and certain locations (such as the history of Oreshek Island and the construction of its fortress) than the story needs.

Although the plot bogs down on occasion, it usually moves forward at a steady pace, adventure following adventure, complete with fistfights, gunfights, helicopter rides during storms, boat chases — the familiar trappings of an action thriller. The action is reasonably credible. The novel is a bit light on the tradecraft that fans of espionage novels might crave, but it does feature the betrayals that are a standard part of spy fiction. Fans of action thrillers will dig Red Star Falling.

RECOMMENDED

This was a great book first of all. If you are a fan of Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum, you will enjoy. The story starts with a retrieval of a lost agent from a secret unknown prison inside Russia. It spins up from there. Lots of plot lines and interesting Russian history with a twist that seems a bit like Indiana Jones. All in all a fantastic read!

Red Star Falling
By Steve Berry/Grant Blackwood

This book returns to the story of Luke Daniels, a former Army Ranger, now working for Stephanie Nelle and the Magellan Billet. Daniels first appeared in The Lincoln Myth, the 9th in the Cotton Malone series. He is now the main character in his own series.

This book uses the tried and true formula of an American agent facing overwhelming odds with everything stacked against him in an attempt to stave off a world crisis. In this book the crisis involves a forgotten atomic bomb still circling the earth after many years – and a former Russian leader who wants to have the bomb explode on the Kremlin to destroy the current dictator and his government. The former President Aleksei Delov thinks that, in spite of killing thousands of his compatriots in Moscow with the bomb, it is the only way to rescue Mother Russia.

Of course, Luke is tasked with stopping this plot. And as usual, there is a mole inside the CIA bent on stopping him. What a surprise! While this book is interesting, the plot is getting somewhat overused. And the book is probably about 50 pages too long.

If you are a fan of the authors, you will probably like the book, but you will hope that the next one will be more original.

I thought this story was just okay. I think it had the intrigue and excitement that all Berry’s stories do, but at times there just seemed to be too much filler. Like the story could have been 100 pages shorter without losing any of the story. Still entertaining, don’t get me wrong, just not the page turner I usually feel with Steve Berry’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Berry, and Grand Central Publishing for providing me an advanced reading copy.

Two of the best writers today combining to produce one hell of a book is a thriller/mystery fans dream come true. Independently I anxiously await new books form both, but together... this one blew me away. Fans need to get this one immediately.

Another enjoyable book by Steve Berry. I have read several of his books in the last year and can always count on a history lesson and lots of action. I highly recommend!!

Luke Daniels is back for his second adventure as a leading character is Steve Berry's new series that he is co-writing with Grant Blackwood. Having tackled the JFK assassination his first time out, he is on the trail of another assassination plan of a world leader that would be catastrophic if the plan succeeds.

That's the contemporary angle that, in Steve Berry's universe, always connects to a real-life historical mystery, in this case the lost library of Ivan the Terrible. And all of this takes place in contemporary Russia, which allows Berry and Grantwood to provide another angle that is always front and center in Berry's world: a travelogue (as stated in the author's endnotes) through some of the lesser known areas of Russia.

The travelogue is fascinating, I was constantly looking at maps of the areas and pictures of the locales, realizing how little I knew of Russia as a travel destination (not that now would be a good time to travel there) -- I say this having visited over fifty countries on all seven continents but having never been to Russia (missed my chance to visit St. Petersburg in 1980).

One of the other things that attracts me to Steve Berry's books are the puzzles and riddles that must be solved in order to unravel the historical mysteries at the heart of each story, the McGuffin if you will, which is always what makes or breaks a double chase like this (or triple chase as the case may be). Sure, there's always a lot of action, but the plot is usually propelled by an intellectual pursuit.

Not so in this book. Learning about Red Star, discovering Ivan the Terrible's lost library, exposing motivations, these are not hidden inside riddles, mysteries, and enigmas that need to be solved. They are on isolated islands, in prison strongholds, in hyper-secure locations, etc., that must be breeched quietly with solid exit plans. The solution to each stage of the story is Luke and his cohorts figuring out how to get in and out of dangerous locations. It's different, but it works.

In The 9th Man, I had a problem with an over-emphasis on action at the expense of the JFK McGuffin. That was action for action's sake. The action here is more interesting because it's all in the planning and in the improvisation required when the plan goes awry. This is perhaps the most interesting series of action sequences I have read, especially since you always know Luke is going to prevail to live another day.

One of my pet peeves about this kind of action novel (or movie or TV show) is that a bunch of nameless and faceless men, hired hands just doing their jobs, even if it's for the bad guys, are just routinely shot or stabbed or strangled or blown to bits. They probably have wives or girlfriends, children maybe. They may not even know they're working for bad guys, they've just been hired for security or whatever. They may even be the hired hands working for the good guys and they still end up suffering an ignominious end.

They are mowed down indiscriminately, in as many numbers as are necessary. And we're supposed to be OK with that because the good guys' means are justified by their ends. Even when their own good guy sidekicks are the ones being mowed down.

Not so with Luke Daniels. He always tries to neutralize these guys without killing them, often without even hurting them. Sometimes he has to hurt them or kill them but it's never indiscriminate, it's only after he realizes that he has no other choice. And often, because he talks to them, or at least tries to talk to them, they're not faceless and nameless, they're real people. I like that.

The downside here is that in the end, both the historical mystery and the contemporary issue achieve closure, but they're not really solved in any meaningful way. After all the action and intrigue, the world is left in exactly the same condition it was at the start. Which is the condition that we find ourselves in in the real world, so maybe it's wishful thinking on my part to have hoped for that to change in Luke's fictional world.

All told, this was a 4 1/2 star read for me. But this time I'm rounding up to 5 rather than down to 4 because the extensive action sequences are meaningful, they're not gratuitous as they were in The 9th Man, a marked improvement in my estimation.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and authors for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review. Apologies for arriving so late after publication with this review -- I didn't get the ARC until just about publication date.

Eh. Red Star Falling is an interesting story and a worthwhile read. It suffers, however, from the same inattention to credibility as did The 9th Man. As a fan of Clancy, Thor, Rosenberg, Flynn, Mills, Carr, Silva, etc, I find the plot requires a degree of suspension of belief that takes away from my enjoyment of the book. You will enjoy the read, but it does not rise to the level of these first tier writers which continues to be my hope for this series.

A good addition to the Luke Daniels series, this time taking place in Russia involving Ivan the Terrible's lost library and a nuclear satellite. Overall, a fast paced thriller that sees a lot of parallels to current Russian politics.

An action-packed thriller with a dose of Soviet-era espionage and a chase to save innocent people from being killed in a nuclear explosion. The race is on for Luke Daniels with a former SVR agent at his side. They are on a mission to find their imprisoned agent friend, find the Red Star, and locate the lost library of Russian royalty. The pace is fast, with unexpected twists and turns. If you love an adrenaline rush, this book is for you! Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you Steve Berry, Grant Blackwood ( @grant_blackwood_author ), Grand Central Publishing ( @grandcentralpub ),and NetGalley ( @netgalley )for allowing me to read Red Star Falling (available now).

The second in the Luke Daniels series has Luke headed into to Russia looking for his captured friend. Once there, he’s drawn into a search for Ivan the Terrible’s lost library…and stopping a secret Russian nuclear satellite (Red Star) from detonating and killing thousands of people.

I love the Cotton Malone series, and this spin-off series is just as good. Luke is a younger version of Cotton and uses his strength and wits to maneuver himself out of some pretty tight spots.

This is a really good mystery/thriller. I liked that it touches on some present day issues such as the conflict in Ukraine—which really leads the reader to envision the fictional Russian president, Konstantin Franko, as its current one.

This book is stand alone, so the first in the Luke Daniels series isn’t one you have to read before this. However, I highly encourage you to read it as well.

#RedStarFalling #NetGalley #SteveBerry#GrantBlackwood #GrandCentralPublishing

What a lesson in Russian history, megalomaniacs mostly of the Russian variety, oligarchs and the horrors of a few misplaced nuclear weapons. Luke Daniels is back in action and he is the closet thing to Superman that we have. Army Ranger once and always, “well trained and cool under fire” he is partnering with a woman who was a former Russian agent to find and liberate an American operative who has been captured and imprisoned in one the worst of the Gulag prisons . But there are other forces at work who are plotting and scheming and the two groups are running parallel paths which are about to veer and collide searching for the same prize for very different reasons.

To say that this story and the situational details are unbelievable would be a gross understatement. But that is probably what makes it all so possible and I never doubt what various government agencies are capable of. There is a death a minute, a chase an hour and the players keep changing sides. From St. Petersburg to Siberia, Finland and back again you just know there are going to be many hold your breath minutes.

I admit to missing Pappy but no doubt it was time for Luke Daniels to step out on his own adventure. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.

Steve Berry is a prolific writer . The reader can be assured that Mr. Berry will offer a complex plot that is multi faceted. I wasn’t even half way into the book and one of the storylines was pretty much developed to my satisfaction 🙌! But wait….. it was not finished by a long shot as it delved deeper into yet another adventure 🙌!! Wow🤩! The reader gets their money’s worth reading Steve Berry. Not only are the storylines complex and intellectual, they are so well researched and detailed and interesting.! The plot in Red Star Falling is utterly intriguing. 👍

Red Star falling is the second book in this installment. I didn’t feel lost at all. Mr, Berry does an admirable job of apprising the reader of what previously transpired; the transition from the first installment to this second one is smooth. 👍

Another trademark of a great author is character development. These characters are round and multi- dimensional , and very interesting characters! They are likable and I felt connected to them no engaged in their story. The dialogue is real and authentic to the character. 👍

This book is not a quick read, It is deep and so very well developed- and that takes time. It is time well spent! It is recommended for those readers who like serious espionage with an intelligent storyline (no suoer- heroes here), intriguing fiction mixed in with Russian history and a good deal of tension, suspense, and action!

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and authors for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. All comments are my own.

Wow! Was this fantastic!!! A "sit down and don't get up until you have turned the last page" type of book. Anyone who loves intelligent thrillers will LOVE this! I can hardly sing its praises enough. This was by first book by Steve Berry but it certainly won't be my last. Highly recommended and if I could, I would give it 10 stars!

Wrapping up his latest assignment for the Magellan Billet, Luke Daniels receives a surprise visit from the head of a former-CIA operation named Sommerhaus — a failed attempt to assemble an espionage network within the Ukraine on the eve of the Russian invasion. Sommerhaus ranks high on Luke’s list of painful regrets for it was during this mission that his friend, CIA case officer John Vince, was captured by Russian operatives and supposedly executed. But Luke is provided some shocking news. Vince is alive, in failing health, locked behind the walls of Russia’s brutal Solovetsky Island prison, and has a critical message he’ll give to no one but Luke. Needing no further convincing Luke vows to bring Vince home.

However, just as he manages to extract his friend from prison Vince tragically dies and his final words are rambling and incoherent. Just bits and pieces. But enough to plunge Luke into a hunt for something lost since the 15th century. The legendary library of the first Tsar of All Russia, Ivan the Terrible.

Within that priceless collection of rare manuscripts is the key to unraveling a modern-day cipher and stopping a secret Soviet satellite program that still exists. But Luke is not the only one on the trail. Others, both inside and out of Russia, want the library for a totally different reason — to re-start the Red Star program and finally unleash its destructive potential. Luke’s mission is clear. Find the lost library, solve the puzzle, and prevent Red Star falling.

Steve Berry will forever be one of my favorite authors. Cotton Malone is quite possibly his greatest creation. However, Luke Daniels is an absolute perfect Southern gentleman with a hint of danger who never forgets to call his mother. There is just something very intriguing about Luke Daniels. The fact that the author does not have the character relying on his famous uncle makes him even better. I thought 9th Man pushed Luke’s feelings a bit. Red Star Falling really put Luke through the ringer. That ending! I would not have been as chill as Luke.

As far as the plot, this is a classic Steve Berry, but there’s more. I attribute the more to Grant Blackwood. Each chapter brings a new layer to the story, but never provides the full clear answer for our protagonist. I also like how close Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood brought the plot to what is happening in reality.

BTW, if my opinion matters at all, I see Glen Powell as the perfect Luke Daniels.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

I really enjoy this author. His writing is easy to read and keeps your attention. This book was exciting and kept me on edge. I love the characters and look forward to seeing how they develop.

Being a fan of Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series , I was anxious to read Red Star Falling with Luke Daniels as the main character. I enjoyed the references and quotes attributed to Cotton Malone. Luke survived the failed Sommerhaus mission but his friend, John Vince, a CIA case officer was captured by the Russians and everyone assumed he was dead until Luke received word he is alive but a Russian prisoner. Luke vows to bring Vince home. Perry includes lots of interesting Russian history and government. Along the way Luke is faced with some major complications including the appearance of Luke’s girlfriend, Danielle Otero, and news of a Russian nuclear bomb, Red Star, orbiting earth. I like Luke’s character. He is smart, pretty fearless and honorable. This is a great pager turner filling with lots of suspenseful action. I highly recommend this book. So much so that I now want to go back and read the first of the Luke series, The Ninth Man and look forward to the third installment of this series.

Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood team up to write this latest installment of the adventures of Luke Daniels. After finishing an assignment for the Magellan Billet, Luke is recruited by the CIA to investigate a lead related to a missing colleague from a former op (off the books, of course). After sneaking into Russia, Luke goes in search of John Vince, his case officer who was thought to be caught and executed by the Russian government. Teaming up with a woman also interested in John’s safety, Luke finds his missing boss in failing health at a remote jail.

What he also finds is a man who can help uncover a secret that could change the fate of Russian politics. To prevent international scandal, Luke must find the lost library of Ivan the Terrible. Amongst the ancient tomes is a book that can help decipher the code needed to save the day.

I love everything Steve Berry puts out! I like how readers can see Luke Daniels’s growth as a person from book to book, evolving from cocky to confident with the sage advice of Cotton Malone. This is another fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read. Filled with bits of history, political espionage, and exciting fights, this is a must read for thriller fans!